fire watch - episode 003 - The Delilah fire mystery

part 09 We have to win

3 weeks after putting her in the home.
They had visited Anita a few times however it was very difficult to speak with her as she got worse and worse, it would take them longer and longer to get her to remember them every time, and it was the thought of it taking longer which kept them away not wanting to have to go through it. Tom was at the kitchen table crying into his hands, he had a few beers and just let all his emotions out all at once, he just couldn't help it. Delilah slowly came round the doorway, she sat at the other end of the table drinking a beer and keeping her head low. They sat there in silence for what felt like an hour, but it was more like 5 or 10 minutes they weren't entirely sure. Delilah was thinking of what to say, but nothing was coming into her head. The situation was worse for Tom in her mind because he had known her for almost 30 years and had of course got extremely close to her "dad... I'm so... I'm so sorry dad. This is hard on both of us, but we need to get through this together. We can't let this break us. Our family has gone through a lot, and we've never been broken, because we are strong and this will not end us, we can't let it end us" Tom looked up, his hands were still on his chin tears streaming down his eyes which were red and swollen like he had been crying for hours because he had "yeah, I know we need to get through this... but I'm just scared of Anita being in that home... it's like... I just think men's wives are saying 'if you ever put me in a home like Tom did I will fucking kill you' but she is safe in that home" "I think it was the best thing for her and for us. If you didn't, she would have got hurt... trust me, you did the right thing, and you're still an amazing person in my eyes" "oh really? I have a heard time believing that right now, I haven't done many amazing things recently"
Delilah paused for a second thinking.
She then knew the perfect thing to say "yes, you have to believe me, you really are the best dad I could ever have asked for, you were always there for me all the time whenever I needed you, and you helped me with everything in my life. You never gave up on me, I remember everything you've done for me... I remember, my 12th birthday, you got me a cake literally the size of me at the time, we kept it in the fridge for days. We sat all day watching my favourite films, you gave me this leather jacket, it was 10 times too big, but I didn't care I wore it at school anyway, I got bullied people told me I only ever had hand-me-downs, but I didn't care. You also got me the nicest necklace with my name engraved on it" he nodded "yeah, 24 carrot gold with diamonds around your name in a heart shape, that was expensive, but worth every penny" "yeah, even after 10 years I still have and wear the necklace every day, you could have got a TV for yourself, or you could have got me this, and you didn't even think of the TV you just got me this... that is why you're the best dad in the world" as she was talking she lifted the necklace which was wrapped round her hand. He smiled at the sight of it, Delilah continued "I also remember, when I was 16, you got me these clothes and I wear them every day, you know my black tank top and white shorts, some day they are too short, but I don't care. I think they look cool and sexy and no one can tell me otherwise, and you always allowed me to do whatever I wanted with my body which I believe was the right thing to do, I believe it made me who I am today, you made me better, that is why you are amazing" Tom smiled nodding "that's my girl... thank you, you're the best daughter in the universe, I couldn't have better" "no, I'm nowhere near the best" "yes, you are, trust me, you really are" she shook her head taking a sip of her beer "no, I started drinking and doing all this shit" Tom shook his head "that doesn't matter, that is just stress, that doesn't change my view of you, nothing can possible ever change my view of you, I could never have asked for a better daughter, and I am so proud of you for everything you have done"
Delilah shook her head.
"Dad trust me, I'm not, I went down the wrong path, a path I'm not proud of" "I will help you get to the right path, because you can become the woman you used to be, trust me" she smiled "maybe one day... but that doesn't make me the best daughter, I just don't deserve that title" Delilah got up turning to leave, Tom called out to her "you know... I remember when you were born, I drank about 9 pints of tea, I was shaking like hell, your mother handled it like a champ, and when you were born the nurses told me you were fine and there was nothing wrong I just started laughing... I don't know why, I just did... I remember what I thought when your mother gave you to me for the first time, you had just been born wrapped up in your cute pink little blanket which is still in my bedroom upstairs. Your mother was exhausted the moment she gave you to me, she immediately went to sleep like a light, so I held you while she slept... I remember sitting in that chair... and I was weirdly terrified, I thought that I couldn't be a father I thought I wouldn't be good enough, I read all the books, and they say to follow your instinct, but I literally had no instinct... but then, you opened your baby blue eyes, and you looked into mine, then you grabbed my thumb with your tiny hand and smiled for the first time... and at that moment... that one exact moment... I knew I would do anything for you, even if I had to give everything up for your happiness I would do it in a heart beat, you gave me a purpose and a cause, you gave me a reason to live, and you were such a great kid you rarely ever cried, you were independent and smart, I remember when you were 5 or 6, we would put you to bed and say 'no more playtime, it's time for bed' we'd put you in your room and the next morning we wouldn't be able to open the door because you were sleeping in the way, you'd been playing all night fell asleep in front of the door, it took me weeks to work out how you were able to see anything, if you turned the light on we would come in and there were no torches in the room, it really did baffle me for a long time however, eventually I worked it out" Delilah moved her head down smiling as the memories rushed back "I would open the curtains and right next to my bedroom window was a street lamp and I used that to light up the room" Tom laughed "my little genius, that's why we let you do it" "let me?" "Yeah we knew you were playing with your toys, you have no idea how loud you really were, but you were getting smarter, and you would fall asleep eventually, so we let you do it" "I never knew that" she said laughing. Tom nodded "that's why you're the best daughter in the world, always making me laugh and doing things like that" Delilah turned back to her dad with a tear going down her face "thank you"
She walked up to him.
She hugged him from behind, Tom held her hand "yeah, that is why you're the best daughter ever, you gave me something important to fight for, after the war I didn't think I would ever have anything to fight for again. I have done a lot of things in my life, killed the service of the army, I've done a lot of things I regret, but you are never going to be one of them, I am forever grateful for that and after all I've done I have an amazing daughter" Delilah nodded "well, you gave me a life of fun and love, that is why we have to fight through this together we have to keep what we have built because you can't have me without you and believe me on that one" Delilah went to the door "okay, I'm going to bed, I'll see you in the morning, I'm going to be seeing Anita" Tom nodded "goodnight, love" she went upstairs. Tom sat for a while thinking about all the memories he had of Delilah's childhood and how much he really loved all of it. After a few hours Tom went up to sleep, they had stopped sharing rooms now because Tom and Anita's room was empty, so he was able to move back in, their conversation actually managed to give Tom a lot of hope for the future, he knew that whatever happened and no matter how hard it was going to be Delilah would always be there to support, he always said she was like his rock, and she was really beginning to prove that to him.